Given: Highest Bidder

by Willow Winters

  “I don’t want to talk, Nat.” My voice is soft. I don’t want to do anything except wait for Zander to be released. Tears leak from the corners of my eyes. He can’t go to jail for me for the rest of my life. I don’t think I could live with the guilt.

  “Please, Ari?” she asks as I brush the tears away. “I’ve been worried sick about you since this all started. I don’t think I can go another minute without knowing what happened.” She shakes her head, tears filling her eyes. “Not after…” she pauses and swallows thickly, “seeing that.”

  I suck in a trembling breath, more tears threatening to spill from my eyes. The pain in Natalie’s voice causes my knees to go weak and I feel like crumpling to the floor. I stumble over to the couch and sink down into the cushions, wanting to curl up into a tiny ball. Crossing my arms across my chest, I bite my lower lip and lower my head. The shame, guilt and anxiety are almost too much for me to take.

  I’ve been a shitty friend, keeping secrets and leaving Natalie in the dark.

  A moment later I feel the space beside me dip as Natalie takes a seat and a warm hand gently touches my shoulder.

  “Please don’t do this,” Natalie begs, her heart in her voice. “Please don’t push me away right now.”

  The pain in her words lances my chest.

  “Ari?” she presses. “Please. My heart is aching.”

  When I can manage over the lump in my throat, I tell her, “I’m so, so sorry for keeping things from you. I never meant to hurt you.”

  “Oh honey,” Natalie says, her voice filled with unshed tears, aching with sympathy. “You don’t have to be sorry for me. I’ll be fine. I’m just happy that you’re okay.”

  I try to respond, but I can’t get any words out.

  Natalie keeps rubbing my shoulders until I’m all cried out, softly whispering soothing comfort in my ears. “Can you forgive me?” I ask hoarsely when I finally recover, looking at her with red-rimmed eyes. Natalie grabs a tissue from the end table and dabs at the tears on my face. “Oh, Ari… there’s nothing to forgive. I love you, and am here for you no matter what.”

  Her words are almost enough to send me into another bout of tears, but I swallow them back.

  “I just need to know what happened,” Natalie says softly.

  I stare at her long and hard. Her eyes are puffy and swollen. I didn’t notice it when I came through the door.

  Sucking in a deep, trembling breath, I tell her everything. About Danny and his abusive, manipulative ways, his debts, him owing Zander, using me as collateral for the auction, Zander’s confession. Everything.

  “Shit, Ari,” Natalie whispers when I’m done, her eyes filled with tears and horror as she shakes her head. “I never knew.”

  “It’s awful,” I say weakly.

  There’s pain in Natalie’s face. And it’s hard for me not to avert my gaze. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  I pick nervously at my blouse. “I don’t know. I felt like... I was trapped. The club, it has NDAs. I’m not supposed to talk to other people about it unless I’ve been permitted.”

  “You could’ve still told me,” Natalie said, looking hurt. “I would’ve never told anyone.”

  I let out a distressed sigh. “I know, Nat. I just didn’t know what to do and I didn't want to disappoint you. I’m sorry. “Nat grabs my hand and squeezes it. “Don’t be.” She gives my hand another gentle squeeze. “I’m just glad you’re alive.”

  I close my eyes, remembering the brutal lashes Danny gave me and whisper, “Me, too.”

  “And I’m glad that bastard Danny is dead,” Natalie says with venom as though my thoughts summoned him to her mind.

  I part my lips out of habit to defend him, but then close them. For the first time I can remember, I have no urge to come to Danny’s defense. It used to come so easily to me, like a reflex, but now I owe him nothing.

  “I’m glad he’s gone too,” I agree, and mean it.

  There’s a moment of silence and I can only hear the sound of my heartbeat.

  “So what happens now?” Natalie asks. “What’s going to happen to Zander?”

  It’s the question that’s been on my mind the moment I saw him dragged out of the courtroom. I like to believe with all his money and power, Zander could somehow find a way out of this. He’s too smart, charming and cunning to let himself be locked away for the rest of his life.

  But deep down, I know his chances are slim. He confessed. They have all the evidence they need to put him away. And no amount of money he has is going to save him.

  A heavy sigh escapes my lips and I grip Natalie’s hand tightly as I reply, “I really hope so, Nat. I really do.”

  Chapter 35

  Zander

  One slip, and your world crumbles around you. My elbows rest on my knees in the large cell. The holding area is quiet, the only sounds coming from a vent above my head and occasionally a door opening or closing. I lift my head to stare at the steel bars.

  I’m fucked. I take in a deep breath, exhaustion weighing me down. There’s nothing I can do or say to protect me. Judgment day has come. I let out a shaky laugh that echoes off the empty walls.

  How ironic. All the shitty things I’ve done, the laws I’ve broken and corrupt deals I’ve made, and yet I’m going to be sentenced for the one good thing I ever did.

  The smile fades as I see the look in Arianna’s eyes. The fear. The realization of what was happening.

  I run my hands through my hair, my eyes glassing with tears. The hardest thing is walking away from her. My sweetheart.

  It’s only been hours since the hearing. Hours since they cuffed me and took me here.

  I was silent in the interrogation room. I’m smart enough to shut up when I’m alone.

  A long sigh leaves me as I slump against the cold brick wall, staring aimlessly ahead. It’s odd how much relief I feel that it’s all over. No more deals and corruption, no more hiding in the shadows and watching, but smiling when the lights are on me. No more pretending and playing their game.

  Even if I somehow get out of here, I’m done. I’m through with all this shit.

  I want more from life. I want a real life. One with Arianna.

  Women make men fall to their knees

  I wouldn’t change a thing. But now I’m not there for her.

  I close my eyes slowly, picturing her sweet smile. Genuine happiness. She gave that to me and I’ll be damned, but I want more.

  My eyes open and the vision of her disappears. If only I could go back and somehow hide it. No. I’d need to go back to before. To when he gave her to me. I’d go back then if I could and hire Charles to end him.

  I should have. I made so many mistakes, tripping and stumbling all the while my eyes were only on Arianna.

  She made me fall, and now I only want to get up for her.

  The sound of the large door at the end of the hall opening, snaps me back to the moment.

  Several sets of shoes slap against the hard floor as they make their way closer to me.

  I stay still, my heart beating slowly and my blood chilling. I know how this all ends, but I can’t help to wish for an out. Someone who owes me, someone I’ve helped in the past who can pull strings. But there’s not a single name I can think of. None connected to Judge Pierce. And I’ve confessed in a room of eyes and ears.

  I should have played this smarter, but I couldn’t think. Not with her taking the fall for me.

  The warden doesn’t look at me as he slips a key into the lock, opening the large cell door by pulling on the first bar. Behind him are two men.

  The first I recognize as my father’s lawyer. Not my own. Nathanael Goldman.

  My father’s behind him. Immediately I stand up, rising to meet them. The warden closes the door behind them as anxiety races in my blood. I can hardly look my father in the eyes, but somehow I do. I may have killed Brooks, but he deserved to die.

  “I know you didn’t do it.” My father’s voice is full of pride and confidence.
r />   “I did,” I look him in the eyes as I answer. My father’s jaw clenches and he looks to his right, to the lawyer he’s brought with him.

  “I didn’t hear anything,” Goldman answers, leaning against the bricked cell wall, with his eyes focused through the bars and on the door at the end of the hall.

  I look back to my father, staring into his eyes that reflect disbelief and something else. Disappointment. Never in my life have I seen him look at me like that. I have to tear my eyes away from him. Shame seeping into my blood. My father’s done a lot of wrongs in his life.

  But I murdered a man.

  “He hit her,” I say the words and my bastard emotions come through, making my voice crack. “He beat her so hard, so violently, she couldn’t even move. There was so much blood.”

  “Zander…” my father’s voice is nearly a whisper.

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t take it back.” My eyes close tight as I sit back on the bench, the image of her on the floor refusing to leave me.

  I jump back at the feel of a strong hand on my shoulder. My eyes fly up to meet my father’s. His eyes are glazed as he nods my head. “I can understand that.”

  He starts to sit next to me, but stands tall instead, running a hand down his face. “I just,” he takes in a deep breath, looking at the wall and lowering his head. “I don’t want to believe it,” he says in a low voice.

  “I couldn’t help myself,” I tell him as I stare at my hands, feeling the anger pouring out of me as I killed him. Stealing the life from him and making sure he’d never strike her again.

  “You’ll never speak of this.” My father turns to face me again, his voice coming in stronger. “Ever. To anyone.”

  I stare at him, not understanding. “I can’t lie on the stand,” I tell him.

  His brow furrows for a moment and then he shakes his head before he says, “There won’t be a trial.”

  I’m dumbfounded, still not understanding. “You aren’t the only one who didn’t like Daniel Brooks. And your Arianna wasn’t the first woman he struck.” My father shares a look with Goldman before continuing. “If you’d just been quiet, she would have gotten off.” Anger flashes in his eyes for a moment as he continues, “If you’d just listened to me and kept quiet-”

  I rise from my seat, meeting my father eye to eye. “I couldn’t risk her,” my voice comes out firm and barely hiding a threat. I’ll never risk her. I won’t ever let her pay for my sins.

  It’s quiet for a long moment. My chest rises and falls with sporadic breaths, remembering how she took the fall for me. I wish she hadn’t. I wish she’d never said a word.

  “It doesn’t matter. You’re still my son. I’m not letting you sit behind bars.”

  “It’ll be out in the papers.”

  My father scoffs. “It’s already out!”

  I lower my head, my blood heating. My reputation is ruined.

  “Payments have been sent,” Goldman says softly from the far side of the cell.

  “Right, right,” my father says, pacing the room. “We can romanticize it?” my father asks Goldman.

  The lawyer nods once, his eyes flickering to my father’s before turning back to outside the cell.

  “So what’s going to happen?” I ask, for the first time feeling as though there’s hope.

  “You’ll be free from charges based on inconsistent evidence. And the papers will paint it as if it’s a tragedy and Daniel Brooks was a monster-”

  “It’s the truth,” my voice is hard as I cut him off. “What he did to her,” I say and my hands shake as they clench into fists.

  “What’s important is the fact that you’ll be fine,” my father says with a hard edge as he walks to the far wall, the wheels turning in his head. A bit of a breath leaves me, and I nearly fall forward.

  “It’s done then?” I ask with disbelief.

  My father turns sharply toward me and says, “So long as you fucking listen.” I stare into his eyes, but I don’t see a hint of anger, only fear. I nod my head once, swallowing the lump in my throat. I’m stunned; I’ve only ever felt a sense of competition between the two of us. But all I have for him in this moment is gratitude. He’s sending me back to her. The thought makes me close my eyes, and her beautiful smile comes back to me.

  “You love her?” my father asks, taking me by surprise. I don’t answer him. I know with everything in me that I do. But a man like him wouldn’t understand.

  “I loved your mother,” he says as if reading my mind.

  My father motions toward Goldman.

  “Just make sure she loves you back, Zander.” My father’s voice wavers as he starts to leave the cell.

  “She does,” I answer him quickly, making him halt in his steps. I may be a fool in many ways. But there’s no doubt in my mind that she loves me as much as I love her.

  My father turns to look at me, a genuine concern in his eyes.

  “I know she does,” I tell him before he can say whatever’s on his mind. “I know she does,” I repeat and my voice is low, but the conviction is there. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone, but for whatever fucked up reason, I need my father to know that she does.

  He nods his head once, his eyes on the floor of the cell. His lips part again, but no words come out. He pats his hand against the bars and Goldman gestures to whoever’s waiting. The sound of heavy boots coming closer down the cement hall echoes off the walls.

  “I hope you’re right, son,” my father says in a low voice. A small bit of doubt creeps into the back of my mind. She’s never said the words. And neither have I. She has no idea. She’s never known.

  “You’ll be out within the hour. Just don’t say anything,” Goldman tells me as the warden opens the cell and the two of them leave me alone. My thoughts are consumed with what will happen to Arianna now that Brooks is dead.

  I have a contract to keep her, but she doesn’t have to stay.

  I’ll do anything I can to keep her.

  Chapter 36

  Arianna

  They look so happy. Standing in the hallway of Zander’s estate, I grip the picture frame in my hands, a solo tear rolling down my right cheek. They look like the perfect family. Zander, with his gorgeous smile. And his two parents looking on as if they’re so proud of their son.

  My heart aches as I stare at the portrait, my eyes on Zander’s mother. She’s gone now. And if she knew what was going to happen to her son, she’d probably be devastated. Guilt presses down on my chest as another tear rolls down my cheek.

  This is all my fault.

  I wish I could tell him that I’m sorry. That I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. That I wish I could take it all back. I wish I could go back to the very beginning. When all of this started. I wish I’d killed Danny myself.

  A huge lump forms in my throat as try to hold back the tide of tears that threaten to fall from my eyes.

  The guilt is almost enough to choke on.

  It wasn’t supposed to end up this way.

  I squeeze the picture frame against my chest, despair and anger coursing through me.

  “You okay, sweetheart?” asks a deep, sexy voice.

  I look up and cover my mouth with my hand, nearly collapsing on the floor.

  “Zander!” I cry, setting down the picture frame on the oak wood stand with shaky hands. It falls over, but I don’t care. I have to run to him. To feel him. I bury my face into his chest and hold him with everything I have in me. I’ll never let him go.

  “How did you…” my voice trails off as I’m at a loss for words when I lean back to look at him.

  He smiles weakly down at me, his eyes focusing on a stray strand of hair in my face as he brushes it away and leans forward to kiss me. The simple touch melts me. My body relaxing into him, finally feeling the warmth of his body. “I’m not going to be charged.”

  His words hit me slowly, taking their time before I fully comprehend what he’s saying. I pull away from him out of shock, but he holds my lower waist cl
ose to him as I stare into his eyes.

  I can’t speak. My voice is robbed from me from the shock. I shake my head slightly and ask, “No charges?”

  “Nothing.”

  “How?” I finally manage softly.

  Zander's eyes go dark momentarily, his body tensing. “My father has his connections,” he replies, his voice low. “He’s still owed a lot of favors.”

  “Is everything...,” I breathe when I get over my shock. “Is everything okay? It’s over?”

  I can barely breathe as he pulls me into his chest. His hand is gentle on my back, but still it stings to the touch. “Sorry,” he breathes into my hair as I settle against his chest. I don’t give a fuck about my back. Not right now. I bury my face into his shirt, just breathing him in. “It’s all over.”

  I don’t want to let go.

  I’m afraid if I do, I’ll lose him forever. And I’ll never have a chance to hold him again.

  “I’ve got you,” Zander whispers as he kisses my hair. “And I’m not letting you go.”

  I close my eyes, and nestle deeper into him. Don’t, please don’t ever let me go. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to let you know for a while now. Something that I’ve wanted to say but haven’t had the courage.” I talk with my eyes closed, but he pulls back to look into my face and I have to stare into his eyes to tell him.

  Zander arches an eyebrow with curiosity. “What’s that?”

  A large lump forms in my throat.

  “I love you, Zander Payne,” I tell him, my voice aching with emotion.

  Zander doesn’t respond immediately, causing my heart to skip as I wait for his response. It’s beating so fast and hard I’m sure he can feel it pumping against his chest. But when he breaks out into a handsome grin, I know I have nothing to worry about.

  “And I love you too, Arianna Owens,” Zander says softly, coming in for a deep, passionate kiss. “And I always will.”